Delivering subject content through nine life themes
As my website article ‘Fragmented Communities’ makes clear, our communities are in trouble. Fixing them is an urgent priority. Too many lives are blighted by prejudice, discrimination, intolerance, violence and anti-social behaviour. Perhaps receiving less media attention but no less socially destructive is the… Continue Reading “Our schools can help us to tackle the loneliness epidemic”
A new report on children and young people’s mental health recommends that any strategy to improve the mental wellbeing of the population as a whole should prioritise interventions at a young age. The report, Young People’s Mental and Emotional Health: Trajectories and Drivers in… Continue Reading “Act early on children’s mental health, says new report”
Birdwatching is an activity for all ages and interest in ‘twitching’ is on the increase. The Forum for Life-Based Learning is in favour of schools teaching about birds and promoting birdwatching as a way of increasing children’s appreciation of nature and promoting mental wellbeing.… Continue Reading “Birdwatching is a great way for children to learn more about nature”
More evidence has been published highlighting the benefits of running and jogging not just for physical health but also for mental wellbeing too. The Forum for Life-Based Learning advocates daily physical activity for all children and a curriculum that enables them to learn healthy… Continue Reading “Millions feel the mental and physical benefits of regular exercise”
A group of child development experts have been in the headlines this week, asking the government to prioritise outdoor play over extra lessons and longer school days for children in the coming months as the country emerges out of lockdown and begins to return… Continue Reading “Academics put outdoor play at the heart of children’s recovery”
Please take a minute to watch our presentation on why we urgently need a focus in schools on learning about emotions and what an emotions learning programme would involve for children aged 5 to 11. More About Emotions and Mental Health
The children’s charity Youth Sport Trust is calling for the government to make the remainder of the current school year an ‘active recovery term’ for young people, with a renewed focus on sport, physical activity and physical education, and time outdoors. We wholeheartedly agree… Continue Reading “‘Active recovery’ needs to be much more than just a short-term fix”
Adventurers, explorers and people involved in sport, including figures such as Clive Woodward, have joined with leaders of outdoor centres, schools and charities, and others concerned with children’s wellbeing in signing a letter to the prime minister this week, urging him to allow outdoor… Continue Reading “Urgent letter to PM highlights the need for outdoor education”
England has today moved to the next phase in the easing of the national lockdown, and the UK’s devolved nations are also in the process of gradually easing their restrictions. Now that spring has arrived, the evenings are getting longer and (hopefully) the weather… Continue Reading “Unlocking the benefits for children of play and outdoor learning”
A bold and imaginative approach to boosting children’s post-lockdown mental health and wellbeing would include a coordinated effort — involving parents and schools, young people’s organisations like Scouts and Guides, and community-driven initiatives — to offer every young person encouragement and, more importantly, easy-to-access… Continue Reading “Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health”